The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-10

something on SS00r 9Ctlt 0uS bv tno Uov0fne
ment, and he was going to engrave the
pictures Of their reports, you see. After ne
had been gone awhile the Hukstodts moved
to where we are now and the money began
to get low in the bank, and there didn't
any more letters come from papa; but that
didn't surprise us, because we knew he
was going away into the wilderness where
there weren't any post-offices. But one day
Mr. Huffstodt brought in paper to Celia
and me, and said: "You poor children,
what will you dot" And there was the
notice Of papa's DEATH. 9. Smith, OF that
very expedition-and then we knew why we
didn't get the letters any more"
He stopped, with choke in his voice,
while the two Celias wept together.
$50 far from home-ohl my poor, poor
James," murmured the elder, clasping her
namesake closer; ''and what did you do
then, poor babiesl"
80, the Huffstodts were very kind; and
after while he got me this place as mes
senger-bov, SO that can pay for things my
self; and we're very comfortable"
"How long since you saw-that nouce,
dear?"
"About six months, and he was gone
nearly year before that"
They sat very quiet then, and the fire
glowed beneath the tiles, when quick
ring at the door-bell startled them all.
An instant later the ubiqitous john
very interrogation point from head to foot
stood in the entrance.
s.Miss Smith, there's two men here, and
one says he would like to see his children
if"
"His children," shrieked Jamie and Celia,
in chorus. "James!" sobbed Miss Smith,
while all three rushed into the hall.
For the next few minutes not even an In.
stantaneous photographer could have done
| justice to the scene-the crazy children
clinging to their father, the woman, with
clasped hands and wild, questioning eyes,
standing in the background-till the words
from Jamie 10 papai it is Miss Smith, your
cousin" caused the newcomer to bound
forward with cry Of "Celisi Ny Celia"
and Ito the horror Of John) clasp his mis-.
tress in an ardent embrace.
| But even my poor description 10 not so
confused as the little group which tumul-
tuously entered the library then-laughing,
talking, crying, explaining, and protesting
with running fire Of "Glorys!" from John
and s'Yahs ~ and "Pless my soulsl'' from
Mr.. Hufistodt, who had led the father
hither.
When something like quiet was restored
the matter became simple enough, however.
Mr.. Smith had written whenever possible,
but failing in that remote region to receive
the children's letter giving their change OF
address, his missives had, Of course, been
misdirected and unanswered, until, becom-
ing thoroughly alarmed at last, he had
thrown up his situation and started Tor
home, much delayed on the journey by
storms and an accident to the steamers
machinery.
Upon arriving in the city he had found
the Huffstodts by means of the directory,
only to learn that his children had been
summoned in a very strange and sudden
way to No. - on the avenue. As the Hun.
stodts were already growing alarmed at
their prolonged absence, the kind, young
German had gladly hsstened with him to
their rescue-"only to find you, Celia, whom
l never expected to see agsinW
He turned and clasped both her hands
while they stood-heart searching hearth
the glow Of the dying fire. The room, the
inmates, were forgotten, and each saw Z
pretty lawn, shaded by great oak tree
and two fgures-one youth walking
slowly away, while the other, a slender girl
with pointing hand and blazing eyes, sale
sternly, "Go" Did that 1outh-the bearded
traveller of to-dsy-read the same fiat II
those eyes which now met his, or did theil
tears their softness, their wistful pleading
bid him 'Stays"
Achildish voice broke the eloquent silence
and bridged the gulf Of eighteen years:
"But, papa, who was the ]. g. Smith thai
did diet"
"O,"-the lover was father once again
though his voice had caught new, exultan
tone as he answered. was our photo
grapher. His first name was Jasper, and hi
died of swamp fever, poor fellow! Celia
are you glad it wasn't I?''-Fdnnis Il. New
berru, in CHICAGO Times.